Wabi-Sabi

How the Japanese concept of “wabi-sabi” (侘寂) is reflected on the door to my studio and in my artwork.

When the painter finished painting our studio, we discovered that he had left off the handle to our exterior door. In fact, he hadn’t even painted it to match. We decided to reattach it without painting it in celebration of the Japanese aesthetic known as “wabi-sabi.”

“Wabi-sabi) (侘寂) is rooted in a Japanese world view that accepts imperfection and the transient nature of all things. Wabi-sabi is about finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness. Every time we open our outer door, the handle reminds us of the impermanence of things, including our beautiful exterior

I work in the fragile medium of paper. Working within the aesthetic of “wabi-sabi” helps me accept the imperfections that naturally arise when working in this medium. Each piece I craft, whether earrings, art cards, garden crane garlands, or wall art, celebrates “wabi-sabi.”

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Author: Vicki Bolen, Little Bird de Papel

I am a paper artist living and creating in Albuquerque, NM. Working with paper to create art gives me an appreciation for the beauty and cultural significance of this versatile material.
I began by folding origami cranes, and over the years my work has evolved to include handmade greeting cards, book making, boxes and mono prints. Each piece gives me the opportunity to create something useful while expressing myself artistically.
I attend numerous art and crafts festivals throughout the country because my intent is to share the joy I experience in making art. My artwork is also available through my Etsy and Redbubble shops.
View all posts by Vicki Bolen, Little Bird de Papel